d
the rest. At periods the murmuring became a howl, and the triumphant
note in it left scant room for doubt as to the nature of the address.
The girl, faced with the responsibility of decided action, no longer
able to depend on the wisdom and terrible power of Red Jabez, stepped
from the wall with panting heart and parted lips, but with no trace of
fear. Uncertainty moved her; uncertainty as to the resources of the
great chamber, whose mysteries had scarcely begun to unfold for her ere
the curtain was dropped again. Her stout spirit decided for her.

"Come, lead me out, Milo," she ordered, drawing herself royally erect
and slipping her dagger around nearer her hand. "We must cool that
rabble before the fire spreads further. Take a weapon, open the door,
and follow me."

"It is the decision of a fit daughter of my chief," replied Milo, his
great frame expanding to the bounding energy that surged through him.
Unknown to her, his eyes had never left Dolores while she was making her
decision; now joy and ardor suffused and transfigured him. Slave he was,
yet it was he who looked the royal part in that instant.

"Wait but a breath," he said, and reached in two gigantic strides a
massive oaken chest heavily fastened with wrought iron. Lifting the lid
with reverence, he took out a plain gold circlet and returned to
Dolores.

"Thy father bade me make this and keep it until thou wast my Sultana,
indeed," he said. He raised the heavy, dull-gold band, and placed it
upon Dolores's brow with the courtly homage of a born noble. It fitted
to perfection--as indeed it should, since the loving fingers that had
fashioned it had crept around the girl's sleeping head many times to
that end--and feminine vanity would not permit Dolores to ignore the
fit. She stepped over to a long gilt-framed mirror, and her beautiful
face grew dark and her violet eyes dusky at the glorious reflection that
gazed out at her.

"It is well, Milo; I thank thee," she smiled. "Now to scatter the rats
that gnaw at my walls. Lead out quickly."

Milo entered the passage, raising the plated door and letting it fall
after them. He disdained to carry a weapon; but Dolores was content, for
she had witnessed what those huge hands could do. As they approached the
great stone at the entrance, the sounds outside rang through the
corridor, and the sharp reverberations that accompanied them at
intervals told of an assault on the rock itself with pikes, crowbars, or
oth